“Well, thank you for reminding me you’re a giant asshole and I can get over my stupid crush now!” I shout the last part before I try to storm off again. He pulls me back into him, this time with a touch more force. It doesn’t hurt, but it does bring my body flush to him. His warm, earthy scent fills my lungs. It’s manly but not in an overpowering way. It’s perfect. Just like his smile and his handsome face.
“You have a crush?” I open my mouth to scold him again, but his expression has softened, and I see a peek into another side of him. It’s more open and, dare I say, vulnerable? “Shit, sorry.” When his face starts to morph into panic, I melt. How can I be such a sucker?
“You ever said sorry before?”
Luke relaxes marginally. “I can’t recall offhand.”
“All right, then try again.”
“Yes, I was jealous, and it pissed me off.”
“Anger is an emotion.”
“You’re telling me to calm down?”
A small laugh leaves me. “Suppose I am. Why don’t you calm down and then come talk when you’re not still pissed at me.”
“Pissed at you?” His brows rise. Well, crap. I’m pissed at him becauseIget jealous when I hear about him with other girls. I need to refine my projection.
“You’re not?”
“You’re a brat, but I’m not pissed at you,” he admits.
“Is this your apology? Calling me a brat? Cause I gotta be honest, it kinda sucks and needs some work.”
“You’ve called me shit a million times worse.”
“Oh, it gets worse. Imagine what I say when you’re not around.” I’m teasing. I’ll say it to his face too. “But,” I start again before he can, “the rules are different for you and me.”
“Is that so?”
“Yep.”
“Do I get to make up rules too then?”
“You don’t have that privilege; now unhand me, you brute. People are watching.” I’m not pissing off the other students. In fact, they appear shocked at our interaction.
“Let them; I don’t give a fuck.” Luke doesn’t take his eyes off me to even glance at who might be around. I’m his sole focus.
“I do.”
“Didn’t take you as the type of girl who cares what others think.” He raises an eyebrow at me.
“I do care. It’s just that care is selective.”
“And you think those selective people would judge you?”
“Well, I don’t want the boys around here to think I’m a puck bunny.” Luke has a reputation, and his sudden attention toward me is going to garner a lot of unwanted attention from the wrong people.
“They won’t,” he says with a strong finality.
“And Georgia.”
“She’ll care?” I’m still pressed flush against him, and the more I settle into him, the more I start to become aware ofmy rising arousal. Luke’s is already fully there, going off the hardness pressed into my stomach.
“Can we step back?” I try to wiggle away, and a small groan leaves him, making me freeze. A flush rushes to my face, and my cheeks start to warm. Great; of all the times to blush, this isn’t one of them. Not that it is controllable. But still.
Luke sucks in and releases an audible breath. “Answer the question and I’ll let go.”
